Have you ever wondered: How much do lacrosse players make in a year?
Professional lacrosse players' salaries vary significantly depending on the player's status, position, and experience - though some numbers have been reported to be as high as six-figure incomes for top players.
With a long history of popularity stretching back centuries, playing lacrosse is an engaging sport with increasing opportunities for talented athletes looking to make a career out of it. This post will explore the earning potential of professional lacrosse players in more detail.
More...
Take Away Key Points:
What is the Average Salary of a Lacrosse Player?
Professional lacrosse players can make a wide range of salaries, depending on several factors, including their experience and performance.
Generally speaking, the average salary for professional lacrosse players is around $25,000 to $50,000 annually.
However, take into consideration that the average salary of a professional lacrosse player will depend on his level in three major leagues:
- PLL players: $35,000 annually.
- MLL players: between $10,000 and $25,000 per year
- NLL players: salaries range from $9,000 to $34,000.
The top-paid lacrosse players in the sport have salaries in the six-figure range, with some making seven figures each year from endorsements and other deals.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were two professional women's lacrosse leagues: United Women's Lacrosse League and the Women's Professional Lacrosse League.
Even though there is no public record of how much do female lacrosse players make, it's positive they make less than their male counterparts.
Unfortunately, both ended due to the pandemic. However, female lacrosse players can now join Athletes Unlimited to continue their careers. The restructuring of female lacrosse is ongoing, but its growing popularity inspires lacrosse players to reach their maximum potential.
Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Salary
If you wonder how much professional lacrosse players make, the biggest number lies within the Premier Lacrosse League.
The Premier Lacrosse League is among the major lacrosse leagues, with eight teams participating in its inaugural season in 2019; founded by lacrosse pro players Paul Rabil and his brother Mike Rabil.
Players' salary ranges from around $35,000 per season, and benefits such as healthcare and equity in the league itself. The minimum salary for a player is set at a fair $25,000 and has yet to be seen before in other major sports leagues.
Compared to MLL lacrosse salary, the pro lacrosse players from PLL receive a bigger salary and good medical benefits.
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Salary
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) is the oldest professional lacrosse league in the U.S., launched in 2001. A total of sixteen games are played in a regular summer season every year, and four remaining teams compete for the Steinfeld Trophy at the end of it.
Unfortunately, players receive far lower salaries than their Premier Lacrosse League counterparts, with an average salary range between $10,000 and $25,000 with no medical or other benefits included.
Even rookies get paid significantly less than this at around $7,000 per season. A petition to raise salaries by 50% has been on the table for some time without public confirmation of any progress being made.
As team owners quit due to low salaries, there's no uncertainty about how much longer MLL will survive.
National Lacrosse League (NLL) Salary
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is the professional indoor lacrosse league in North America, established in 1987.
It is composed of nine teams spread across Canada and the United States. The regular season consists of 16 games followed by four rounds of single elimination playoffs ending in a championship game.
Each team has a roster of 18 players; an average NLL salary is around $34,000 per player. However, novice players can expect to be paid $9,000 per lacrosse season.
Benefits include health insurance provided by the league, a pension plan and tuition assistance for post-secondary education. The NLL operates as a single entity; thus, all teams are owned and operated by the same group of investors, while player contracts are standardized throughout the league.
How Do Lacrosse Players Make Money?
The earning potential of an average lacrosse salary is primarily dependent on several factors, including team level, experience, brand deals, performance, and position.
1. Experience
Professional teams from different levels have different salaries; for example, players in the National Lacrosse League earn significantly more than their counterparts in other leagues around the world.
For players starting in professional lacrosse, wages are relatively low as they are still getting acclimated to the pro style of play. However, as seen with many other sports, salaries for pro lacrosse players who stay in lacrosse for longer can offer significant financial rewards.
Furthermore, those who spend more time in the sport have an advantage in getting recruited by a top team with better potential earnings.
2. Team level & position
Additionally, certain positions, such as goaltenders and attackmen, are valued more than others due to the higher skill required.
Experience plays an important role, too - more experienced players tend to be rewarded with higher salaries as they can contribute more to their teams.
3. Brand deals
Brand deals can have a significant impact on the salary of a professional player.
As lacrosse continues to grow, top players are increasingly sought after by big brands and sponsors for endorsements and other marketing partnerships.
Having an established name or presence in the field lacrosse community can be very lucrative for players, with some receiving handsome financial rewards from such deals.
For example, some of the world's premier lacrosse players have been known to receive endorsement deals from top sports apparel companies or even their individual apparel lines.
4. Individual performance
Playing lacrosse professionally will prioritize individual player performance. Professional sports consider pro lacrosse players and their performance when assigning salaries or bonuses - players who consistently perform well will earn more than those who do not.
Goaltenders, attackmen, defenders, and midfielders with impressive stats can receive bonuses or additional pay rewards for their efforts. Additionally, good individual performances can also help teams win more games, leading to greater financial incentives for all team members.
FAQs
Who is the richest lacrosse player?
Paul Rabil, a.k.a. A Million Dollar Man, is widely believed to be the richest lacrosse player in the world. The four-time Major League Lacrosse MVP and two-time World Champion have a net worth of approximately $10 million, making him one of the wealthiest players in the sport.
At the top of a regular salary as a pro lacrosse player, this highest-paid lacrosse player is looking at a million dollars bonus each lacrosse season.
With multiple sponsorship deals and his lacrosse equipment line, Rabil also earns an impressive income off the field.
How much do NLL players get paid?
The salaries of National Lacrosse League (NLL) players vary depending on which team they play for and their level of experience.
On average, entry-level players can expect to earn a minimum base salary between $5,000 and $15,000, while the highest earners in the NLL can bring home more than $50,000 per season.
What is the highest PLL salary?
The highest salary in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is currently $107,028 a year.
Those with the lowest paid salaries can expect to make around $43,000 annually, while the highest earners have a salary of up to $168,000 annually. This means potential earnings can range from $43,000 to $145,000, depending on skill level and location.
These wide discrepancies in pay suggest that there may be plenty of opportunities for experienced lacrosse players to advance and enjoy higher salaries.
How much do athletes' unlimited lacrosse players make?
Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse players can earn a base salary of up to $20,000 per season. This amount is typically earned by experienced players who have demonstrated their skills and abilities on the field.
What is the highest-paying sport?
The highest-paying sport of all time is Basketball, with top players such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant earning over $40 million per year.
Other examples of high-paying sports include Football, Baseball, Hockey, and Soccer. Professional athletes in these sports can earn salaries ranging from thousands to tens of millions of dollars annually.
Which lacrosse team pays the highest in America?
In the U.S., National Lacrosse League (NLL) is the highest-paying professional lacrosse league, with annual salaries of up to $32,000 or more for experienced players.
How do lacrosse athletes make money?
Lacrosse athletes can make money from various sources, including salaries from professional and semi-professional teams, sponsorships and endorsements, prize money from tournaments, live streaming revenue, and online lessons.
Professional players typically earn the most money through salary contracts with their teams. However, semi-professional players can also make a significant amount of money depending on their league.
What is the average career age of a professional lacrosse athlete?
The average career age of a professional lacrosse athlete is typically between 25 and 40+ years, although some players can sustain their careers for longer.
How much do indoor lacrosse players make?
Professional indoor lacrosse players can make anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands, depending on the team and league they play for. Semi-professional players generally make much less, although their earning potential is still higher than many other amateur sports.
Why do lacrosse players make so little?
Lacrosse players make relatively little compared to other major sports for a few reasons. First, the leagues and teams are often smaller, meaning fewer sponsors and revenue opportunities.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it is clear that indoor lacrosse players make much less than their counterparts in other major sports.
The main contributing factors to this difference are the size of the leagues and teams, the need for a dedicated fan base, and limited access to premium training facilities.
Despite all this, lacrosse players still have plenty of potential to make a living from professional athletics if they can find the right opportunities.
